April 8, 2026
Minnesota Twins reliever
Cole Sands recorded just one out in the 4-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday. He entered in the eighth inning and allowed a lineout and two walks. Sands continues to search for a defined role in the backend of the Twins bullpen after securing his first save of the season in his first appearance. He has not received another save opportunity since. The 28-year-old has still been effective, posting a 2.25 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, and .231 opponents average. Sands worked primarily as a setup man last year, recording 13 holds and three saves, but could shift roles as he continues to navigate his usage.
--Julian BrookeSource: MLB.com
April 8, 2026
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield (lower body) didn't finish Tuesday's matchup with the Boston Bruins, Walt Ruff of the Hurricanes' official site reports. The 29-year-old left the game in the third period due to a lower-body injury. Chatfield made his 71st appearance of the season against Boston. He's played a significant role for the Hurricanes, averaging 20:06 of ice time. However, Chatfield hasn't really made an impact in fantasy hockey. He has recorded 17 points (two goals, 15 assists), 99 SOG, 62 blocks, and a plus-16 rating. Mike Reilly, who was a healthy scratch for a seventh consecutive game on Tuesday, will fill the void in the lineup on Thursday night against Chicago if Chatfield can't give it a go.
--Taavi PailkSource: Walt Ruff
April 8, 2026
Texas Rangers reliever
Jakob Junis earned his second save of the season in a 3-2 win over the division-rival Seattle Mariners on Tuesday. Junis allowed two hits but minimized damage and induced weak contact, throwing 11 strikes out of 15 pitches. The 33-year-old has yet to allow a run or a walk in seven innings pitched this year, and has looked effective in late-game situations. He has progressed steadily over his 10-year career and is expected to earn more high-leverage opportunities if the success continues. Junis is in his first year with Texas after coming over from Cleveland, where he posted a 2.97 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 66 ⅔ innings.
--Julian BrookeSource: MLB.com
April 8, 2026
Colorado Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri (upper body) was unavailable for most of Tuesday's 3-1 conference-clinching win over the St. Louis Blues. He took only seven shifts and logged 6:09 of ice time. The team ruled him out for the rest of the game at the start of the third period. Kadri has scored four goals and nine points in 16 games since rejoining the Avalanche in March. With Colorado sitting comfortably at the top of the Western Conference standings, it would make sense for the team if it didn't rush Kadri back during the regular season. Zakhar Bardakov and Joel Kiviranta will be options to enter the lineup on Thursday against Calgary if Kadri isn't healthy enough to face his former team.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
April 8, 2026
Memphis Grizzlies guard
Ty Jerome (ankle) will remain on the shelf against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night. He has been ruled out for a ninth consecutive game. Jerome is nursing a left ankle sprain, and considering the Grizzlies' situation, it wouldn't be surprising if he sat out the final week of regular-season action.
Javon Small (thigh) and
Cam Spencer (back) also won't be part of the rotation against Denver.
Lucas Williamson and
Adama Bal had a huge workload in Monday's loss against Cleveland and could feature heavily again.
Walter Clayton Jr., who recorded his first career double-double with 10 points and 11 assists on Monday, is another player benefiting from the backcourt injuries.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
April 8, 2026
Orlando Magic center
Wendell Carter Jr. (nose) is considered questionable for Wednesday's contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 26-year-old big man suffered a nasal fracture in Monday's win over Detroit, leaving the game after logging only 18 minutes.
Goga Bitadze's workload increased on Monday night, and the same is likely to happen on Wednesday if Carter Jr. isn't available.
Moritz Wagner would also move up on the depth chart. Bitadze had nine points, four rebounds, one assist, three blocks, and one steal in 24 minutes on Monday in a tough matchup against
Jalen Duren. His life won't be any easier on Wednesday versus
Rudy Gobert.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
April 8, 2026
Detroit Pistons forward/center
Isaiah Stewart (calf) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's meeting with the Milwaukee Bucks. Ahead of Monday's game against Orlando, Stewart was upgraded to doubtful on the injury report, and he has now received another upgrade. The 24-year-old has been out of action since mid-March due to a left calf strain. Stewart's return will significantly affect how much the Pistons use
Paul Reed. He could be limited to only a handful of minutes, with
Jalen Duren also healthy.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
April 8, 2026
Cleveland Cavaliers center
Thomas Bryant (calf) won't be part of the rotation on Wednesday against the Atlanta Hawks. He has been ruled out for a second consecutive game due to a left calf strain. Muscle injuries can be hard to heal, so Cleveland might also begin the playoffs without Bryant.
Larry Nance Jr. has a bigger role without Bryant and should be fired up against his former team on Wednesday. Still, with
Jarrett Allen and
Evan Mobley healthy, Nance Jr. is unlikely to make a fantasy impact.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
April 8, 2026
Cleveland Cavaliers forward
Dean Wade (ankle) has been tagged as questionable on the injury report ahead of Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Hawks. He appears to be nearing his return, as the team has previously listed Wade out for seven consecutive games. The 29-year-old hasn't played since March 24 due to a right ankle sprain. Wade has been a regular starter for Cleveland since December. His absence has allowed
Max Strus and
Keon Ellis to log starts.
Jaylon Tyson (toe) will also soon become an option for the Cavaliers, leaving head coach Kenny Atkinson with a complicated rotation puzzle to solve.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
April 8, 2026
Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward
Jaylon Tyson (toe) is questionable for Wednesday's matchup with the Atlanta Hawks. The 23-year-old sophomore is nursing a toe injury and hasn't played since March 19. When he eventually returns, Tyson could be on a minutes limit, which would further decrease his fantasy appeal. Tyson's fantasy stock took a big hit in February when the Cavaliers acquired
James Harden. He has made only a handful of starts since then.
Max Strus' addition to the rotation last month has also made his situation more complicated.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
April 8, 2026
Portland Trail Blazers forward
Jerami Grant (calf) will be out for a fifth consecutive game on Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs. The veteran recently sustained a right calf strain, and it may take some time before he's game-ready again. With Grant out of action, Portland has inserted
Scoot Henderson into the starting lineup. He has been effective in his new role, averaging 17.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists, while shooting 47.6 percent from three-point range. The Spurs likely won't have
Victor Wembanyama (ribs) available on Wednesday, which will notably weaken their defense. This is great news for Henderson and the Trail Blazers.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
April 8, 2026
Buffalo Bills running back
Ray Davis has failed to establish any sort of standalone value in fantasy football, leading to him being nothing more than a mid-range handcuff. The Kentucky product drew excessive hype during and after the 2024 NFL Draft, but he has yet to get on the fantasy radar consistently with RB40 and RB61 finishes.
James Cook III's availability has been tremendous since he was drafted, but he did miss one game in 2024. During that contest, Davis exploded for 97 rushing yards and 55 receiving yards. The talent is indisputable, but the role is far from favorable and will require dynasty managers to exercise more patience. At this point, he's already 26 years old, so his role as a backup/handcuff isn't as intriguing when Cook is healthy for just about every game. Davis would only get onto the fantasy radar if Cook were to miss time next yar, and even then, managers would want to make sure the Bills don't prioritize
Ty Johnson over Davis.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 8, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver
Ja'Marr Chase had a terrific season in 2025 from a fantasy football perspective, ranking as the overall WR4 with 125 catches, 1,412 yards, and eight touchdowns. It was a step back from his overall WR1 finish in 2024, but at least he can still say that he was a top-12 fantasy receiver through each of his first five seasons in the NFL. What made Chase's 2025 stats even more impressive was the fact that he spent more than half of his games without
Joe Burrow, instead catching passes from
Jake Browning and
Joe Flacco. If Browning and Flacco can support a top-five finish, then Burrow will certainly have no trouble doing it, too. The 29-year-old quarterback is healthy once again, which bodes well for Chase's potential to reclaim his spot as the top-scoring receiver in fantasy football.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 8, 2026
Dallas Cowboys running back
Javonte Williams had the backfield to himself for most of the 2025 season, and we could see a similar dynamic in 2026. The Cowboys re-signed Williams to keep him in tow as their primary ball-carrier. He's coming off a breakout campaign in which he finished as the overall RB12 with 1,201 rushing yards, 35 catches, 137 receiving yards, and a career-high 13 total touchdowns. That type of production typically earns a big role the following year, and Williams should continue to thrive with consistent volume. It's great news that the Cowboys' lead back faces minimal competition within his position group.
Jaydon Blue, the current favorite to back up Williams, was a healthy scratch more often than not, playing in just five games. The Cowboys have a willingness to get running backs more involved in Year 2 after a patient rookie season, but Blue might need a little more time than that. As a result, Williams' track record as a low-end RB1 is simply too hard to ignore.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 8, 2026
Tyrrell Hatton has been up and down on LIV to start the year, with two top-10s and three finishes of T38 or worse through five events. He now turns to The Masters, where he has three top-20 results and two missed cuts in nine starts. His best performances here have come when he gained strokes on approach and around the greens. This year, Hatton is losing -0.27 strokes around the green but gaining +0.29 on approach. He is also in the 84th percentile in proximity from 150-200 yards, a range that accounted for 38.7% of approach shots here last year. Hatton's track record at major tournaments speaks for itself, with 16 top-25 finishes, including seven top-10s, across all his starts. He's a solid floor option who offers a strong chance to make the cut and potential top-10 upside if his short game cooperates.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: DataGolf
April 8, 2026
Through his first three starts this season, Justin Thomas has posted a missed cut, a T8, and most recently, a T30 at the Valspar. He now turns to the Masters, where he has six top-25 finishes, including a fourth place in 2020, with just two missed cuts in 10 trips. His best results at Augusta have coincided with strong putting and approach play, areas where Thomas hasn't found consistency yet this year. He has lost -0.155 strokes per round on approach and -0.023 on the greens, though his around-the-green play has been solid, gaining +0.605. He is also in just the 27th percentile in proximity from 150-200 yards, a range that made up 38.7% of approach shots here last year. When in form, Thomas has everything needed to contend, but after missing time to start this season, he's a high-risk, high-reward option at $8,300 on DraftKings.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
April 8, 2026
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Terry McLaurin continues to face minimal competition for volume ahead of the 2026 season. McLaurin finished last year with 38 catches, 582 yards, and three touchdowns across 10 games. Missing seven weeks hurt his fantasy stock, but he made the most of his opportunities when on the field, especially in a low-volume passing offense. Moving forward, the offensive scheme should be McLaurin's only concern. The next receivers on the Commanders' depth chart are
Van Jefferson,
Treylon Burks, and
Luke McCaffrey, so it's not like McLaurin needs to panic about his job. In fact, managers might see him as a buy-low target in dynasty leagues since the Commanders' revamped passing offense could funnel through him. All in all, he's a high-end WR2 with WR1 upside in redraft leagues, and he could be an intriguing buy-low candidate in dynasty formats, given his bounce-back potential.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 8, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback
Justin Herbert is coming off his best fantasy season since 2021, and there's a real chance that he could continue to trend upward going forward. Herbert was the overall QB10 in fantasy football last season, tallying 26 passing touchdowns but throwing 13 interceptions. It was his highest interception total since, ironically, that aforementioned 2021 campaign. Managers should be optimistic about the future outlook of the first-round pick, given the state of the offense. For starters, the Chargers hired offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, a potential play-calling mastermind who can maximize the upside of his players. The Chargers also made a concerted effort to bolster their league-worst offensive line. Now, Herbert will have Cole Strange and Tyler Biadasz in front of him, and he should also get star tackles Rashawn Slater (knee) and Joe Alt (ankle) back from injury. The only glaring subtraction is wide receiver
Keenan Allen, but Herbert should still have plenty of reliable targets in
Ladd McConkey,
Quentin Johnston, and
Oronde Gadsden III. With a solidified offense around him, Herbert can be a top-10 fantasy quarterback with top-five upside in 2026 and beyond. He's an intriguing target in dynasty leagues this offseason.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 8, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver
Tee Higgins continues to trend up across fantasy football. He posted a career-best WR15 finish in 2025, catching 59 passes for 846 yards and 11 touchdowns. The reception and yardage totals weren't amazing, but his tendency to find the end zone allowed him to solidify himself as a WR1 or WR2 consistently. Higgins had such a productive season despite playing without quarterback
Joe Burrow for more than half of his games. As Burrow missed more time due to injury, Higgins was forced to catch passes from a combination of
Jake Browning and
Joe Flacco. It wasn't the greatest quarterback play, but the 27-year-old receiver still contributed, oftentimes bailing out his quarterbacks with spectacular catches down the field. Higgins has proven capable of handling a more versatile route tree, and we're intrigued about his ability to continue posting double-digit targets while seeing a bump in catches and yards with Burrow fully healthy. Given that Higgins has top-12 upside going forward, he's an intriguing offseason trade target in dynasty leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 8, 2026
Sungjae Im missed back-to-back cuts since returning from a wrist injury, but has since posted a T4 and a T60. He now turns to The Masters looking to get things rolling. In six starts at Augusta, Im has been boom-or-bust, with three finishes inside the top eight and two missed cuts. His biggest key to success here has been his short game, gaining over 24.1 strokes combined around the green and on the greens in his three best trips, while losing more than -3.4 strokes in his missed cuts. This year, the short game has once again done the heavy lifting, as he has lost strokes across the bag aside from putting and around the green play. Im will clearly need to lean on that strength to contend, but concerns around ball striking and health suggest this could tilt more toward bust than boom.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
April 8, 2026
Nicolai Hojgaard recorded his fourth top-six finish of the season at the Texas Children's Houston Open, ultimately finishing as runner-up. He looks to carry that momentum into The Masters, where his previous results include a T16 and a missed cut. Augusta National demands a fully rounded game, especially strong approach play, distance, and avoiding big mistakes. Hojgaard has excelled in these areas, ranking ninth in total strokes gained (+1.568 per round), 12th on approach (+0.712), ninth in driving distance, and 19th in bogey avoidance. The only concern is his major tournament history, with just three top-25 finishes and eight results of T50 or worse in 12 starts. Still, Hojgaard has rarely been in better form, and at $7,500 on DraftKings, he presents very high upside at this price.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
April 8, 2026
Si Woo Kim continued his strong season at the Valero Texas Open, recording his sixth result of T13 or better through his first nine events. He now turns to The Masters, where he's made seven of eight cuts, with a best finish of T12 in 2021. Augusta rewards elite approach play, distance off the tee, and avoiding big mistakes, areas where Kim has shown some strength. He ranks fourth in strokes gained tee to green (+1.626), third on approach (+0.912), and first in driving accuracy. Despite also sitting ninth in bogey avoidance, the putter has held him back, ranking 132nd, and he lacks elite length at 122nd in driving distance. Kim is also first in proximity from 150-200 yards, a range that accounted for over 38% of approach shots here last year. His elite iron play will always provide high upside here, and as long as he remains disciplined with his aggressive pin-seeking style, Kim presents a very strong option this week.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
April 8, 2026
Chris Gotterup has climbed to 11th in the Official World Golf Ranking with two wins and three other top-20 finishes to start the year. He now makes his Masters tournament debut, where a fully rounded game is key, especially approach play, distance, and avoiding big mistakes. Gotterup ranks 16th in total strokes gained (+1.335), 30th on approach (+0.436), and fourth in driving distance. His putting has been average, sitting 80th overall, and 42nd in three-putt avoidance. Additionally, he sits in the 81st percentile from 150-200 yards, a range that made up nearly 39% of approaches here last year. Although Augusta debuts are tough, Gotterup has the tools to compete, and the putter will likely determine how far he goes.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
April 8, 2026
Since announcing his departure from LIV, Patrick Reed has been crushing it on the DP World Tour, with two victories, a runner-up, and a T10 in his first six events. The 2018 Masters Champion looks to carry that form to Augusta National, where he's finished T4, T12, and third over the last three years. He's been dominating the DP World Tour, ranking first in total strokes gained (+2.40 per round), second on approach (+1.57), and 14th around the green (+0.38). Reed has also figured out how to putt at Augusta, gaining over 3.5 strokes in four of his last six trips. He is well-rounded, playing with confidence, and in fantastic form. Do not be surprised to see Reed near the top of the leaderboard come Sunday.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: DP World Tour
April 7, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies third baseman
Alec Bohm (groin) came out of Monday night's game against the San Francisco Giants with groin tightness, which is why he was out of Tuesday's starting lineup, according to Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Manager Rob Thomson said that Bohm should be fine for Wednesday's contest against the Giants.
Edmundo Sosa got the start at the hot corner on Tuesday in place of Bohm. The 29-year-old Bohm has gotten off to a slow start in 2026 in his seventh year in the majors, going 8-for-39 (.205) with a homer, a double, eight RBI, and three runs scored in 44 plate appearances over 10 games. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Wednesday to see if Bohm is officially back in action for a scheduled matchup against Giants right-hander
Tyler Mahle. If Bohm continues to struggle at the plate this year, the Phillies could decide to call up prospect
Aidan Miller (back) and have him push Bohm for playing time.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Lochlahn March
April 7, 2026
Atlanta Braves catcher
Sean Murphy (hip) is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday, according to Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Murphy didn't play at all during spring training after having offseason hip surgery, so the 31-year-old veteran's rehab assignment won't be a short one. The Braves also don't have to rush him back with both
Drake Baldwin and
Jonah Heim both fully capable of handling catching duties at the big-league level in the meantime. When Murphy is fully cleared to rejoin the big-league roster, he figures to see plenty of at-bats between catcher and designated hitter, although he could be eased back into action. The former third-rounder by the A's in 2016 out of Wright State has well above-average pop for a catcher, having hit 56 homers from 2021 to 2023. However, he's coming off major hip surgery and has just 26 long balls in the last two seasons while playing fewer than 100 games. Durability has become a major question mark for Murphy.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Chad Bishop
April 7, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays veteran left-hander Patrick Corbin will be recalled from Single-A Dunedin on Wednesday and is tentatively scheduled to start on Friday against the Minnesota Twins, manager John Schneider told Hazel Mae of Sportsnet. In his lone minor-league start with Dunedin over the weekend, the 36-year-old southpaw looked great, allowing an unearned run with nine strikeouts in five innings of work. That was against lower-lever minor-league bats, though, so fantasy managers will want to temper expectations in his first start back in the big leagues, even in a favorable matchup against the Twins. The two-time All-Star has made 30 starts in eight straight seasons, but outside of durability, there's plenty of volatility in his left arm, especially in the tough American League East and in hitter-friendly Rogers Centre. Corbin has not had an ERA below 4.00 since 2019 with the Washington Nationals, and his below-average career strikeout rate will leave him little room for error. However, with
Cody Ponce (knee),
Jose Berrios (elbow),
Shane Bieber (elbow, forearm), and
Trey Yesavage (shoulder) all on the shelf, Corbin could have a runway to stick in the Jays' starting rotation for a while if he pitches well.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sportsnet - Hazel Mae
April 7, 2026
Jon Rahm has been dominant on LIV to begin the year, recording three runner-up finishes, a fifth-place finish, and a win through his first five events. He looks to keep it rolling as he makes his tenth start at Augusta National. The 2023 Masters champion has just one finish outside the top 27 here, which came in 2024 shortly after his move away from the PGA Tour. This season, Rahm leads LIV in total strokes gained (+2.84 per round) and on approach (+1.07), ranks second off the tee (+0.84), and sits fifth in putting (+0.61). He has already proven he can win here, and there may not be a more in-form player in the world right now. Rahm enters as a serious contender to claim his second green jacket.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: DataGolf
April 7, 2026
Boston Bruins center Morgan Geekie scored three goals, but it was not enough to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes as Boston lost 6-5 in overtime on Tuesday. He was on a big goal drought before Tuesday, having not scored a goal since March 5 -- 17 straight contests. Despite this drought, Geekie is having a career year with 37 goals, 66 points, and 22 penalty minutes.
--Marko23Source: NHL.com
April 7, 2026
San Diego Padres right-hander
Joe Musgrove (elbow), who began the 2026 regular season on the 15-day injured list while recovering from Tommy John surgery that he had in 2024, still is not throwing off a mound, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. "To get major-league hitters out, your (expletive) has got to be good, and you've got to be confident," Musgrove said. "And I just don't have that right now. I'm not far off." The next step will be to get back on a mound, and eventually he'll resume facing hitters before going on a minor-league rehab assignment. The 33-year-old last threw off a mound on March 4 in an exhibition game in spring training against Great Britain, but he was pulled back from his rehab after that after not responding like he wanted to. The Padres are going to slow-play this one given Musgrove's extensive absence, and we might not see Musgrove make his 2026 debut at this rate until June or July.
--Keith HernandezSource: The San Diego Union-Tribune
RADIO
